Emergency tire tool



Nov. 1, 193s. E D LEM/,S 2,135,403

EMERGENCY T IRE TOOL Filed Feb. 1s, 1958 iatented Nov. 1, 1938 IvuNl'rEo STATES PATENT oFFlcs EMERGENCY TIRE T001 Frank D. Lewis, West Orange, N. J., assignor, by direct and mesne assignments, to Rhoda Fairer, Perth Amboy, N. J., as trustee Application February i8, 1938, Serial No. 191,295

i4 Claims.

The present invention relates to tools for applying tire chains.

A form of tire chain frequently used in` emergencies and commonly known as an emergency 5 chain consists of a pair nected at their ends by cross bars. From one bar extends a suitable strap of short chains conusually of fabric and clamping means, drawn clamp.

taut and held by the In so applying the chain without the use of tools, it is practically impossible to prevent soiling of the hands and clothing.

One important object of the present invention is to provide a novel tool adapted to support and hold such an emergency chain during application, the tool being provided with a handle and being so constructed and arranged as to afford means for carrying the strap around the tire and bring its end where it may be readily forward into position grasped without ones hands or clothing coming into contact with the tire or any other part of the vehicle.

A second important object of the invention is to provide a novel tool for this purpose which can be adjusted to accommodate variations in the lengths of the chains and especially of the strap portion oi such chains.

A third important object of the invention is to provide such a tool with means to hold the clamp end of the chain, the means being of such construction that it may also be used for actuating the clamp to cause it to grip the strap upon application of the emergency chain to a tire.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in general of certain novel details of construction andcombinations of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and particularly pointed' out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing, like characters of reference indicate like parts in the several views, and:-

Figure 1 is a side elevation of with an emergency chain the invention supported thereon.

gency chain.

Figure 4 is a section on 'the une 4 4 'of rig. 1.

Figure 5 isa section on the line 5 5 of Eig. 1. Figure 6 is a section on the line I-B of Fig. l. Figure '7 is a section on the line 'I-l of Fig. 4. Figure 8 is a side elevation of a modified strap holding hook. l

The type of emergency chain commonly used and for which the present invention is particularly adapted is indicated generally at I0 and the tool itself is indicated generally at il.

The emergency chain includes a clamp comlo prising a flat plate forming a body i2 having a transverse slot 'i3 adjacent one edge and an in'- clined lip Id extends from the body I 2 at the edge oi this slot nearer 'the said edge. A pair oi ears i5 are carried by the body i2, these ears extending at right angles to the body and being located at the opposite side edges thereof. Extending frorn the face of the body is a pair of confronting L-shaped lugs'it spaced on opposite sides of the center line of the body- I2. 20 Chain loops il are 'fixed to the vbody i2 on' opposite sides of the pair or lugs I6. A clamping tongue i8 is provided with laterally projecting opposed trunnions or journals I9 adjacent one end, and these trunnions or journals fit on the 'ears i5 so that the tongue is pivoted to the body in such manner that its pivotal action biases the short end 2t of the tongue toward and from the lip iii. Extending from the loop I1 is a pair of chains 2l each having one end con- 30 nected to a respective loop I'I and its other end connected to an opening 22 formed in one arm 23 of a plate 2d of general Y-shape. The stem of this plate 2d is provided with a trans-y verse slot or opening 25 wherethrough passes 35 one end portion of a strap 26, the end being doubled back to form a loop and being secured by rivets 2l or the like. This strap is of proper fsize to pass through the slot I3 and is ofproper thickness to be gripped between the tongue end 40 '20 and lip Ii upon the tongue i8 being rotated .to bias the end 20 towards said lip.

The tool includes a straight metal bar 28 forming the tool body. One end of this bar is turned up at right angles to the body to form a hook 29. 45 Handle sections 30 are secured to opposite faces of the body 2% in such position that a space 3| forming a wrench jaw is provided between the hook 29 and the squared end 32 of one of the handle sections. A chain support in the form of a transverse bar 33 is xed to the body 28 intermediate its ends. At the end opposite the hook 29 the bar extends downwardly at right angles to the body as at 3l to form the upper section strap support. This portion 34 is provided with a pair 55` the strap between the end 28 of spaced openings 35. Fixed in the lower hole is a stud or dowel 36. 'I'he strap support also includes a lower section 31 of bar metal having a straight upper end portion and a lower end portion curved toward the handle end of the tool. 'I'he upper portion of the member 31 is provided with a series of holes 38 spaced at the same distance as the holes 35 and, in assembling the device, the dowel 36 is inserted in one of the holes 38 and the bolt 39 is inserted through the next hole 38 above the dowel. Fixed to the under side of the lower end of the member 31 is a strap hook 48 comprising a bent ilat strip preferably of spring metal for engaging and holding the vend of the strap 26, as shown in Figure 1.

In themodication shown in Figure 8, a-strap holding hook 40a, preferably made of spring metal, is bent similarly to hook 40 and extended so as to form a spring clamp with the lower end of strap supporting bar 36. This clamp will serve to prevent the strap 26 from slipping during the use of the tool.

In using the device, the body 28 is seated between the arms 23 of the plate 24 with the strap beneath the body 28. The chains are arranged to rest on the bar 33 and the hook 29 is engaged between the lugs I6, as in Figure 2. 'Ihe strap is now led around the concave face of the member 31 and its end engaged in the hooks 40 or `40a. 'Ihe emergency chain is now ready for application. To apply the emergency chain, the member 31 is passed to the inner side of the tire with the body 28 extending transversely of the tire. 'Ihe member 31 then has its hook end passed between the wheel spokes or through one of the wheel center openings provided in many disc wheels, the passage being effected from the inner to the outer side of the wheel so that the end of the strap is positioned for convenient grasping. The strap end is now removed from the hook 48 and the strap pulled forwardly. Next the chains are pushed off the bar 33 and the clamp released from the hook 29. The tool may now be removed as itis free from the emergency chain. The strap is now passed through the slot I3 and pulled taut and the tongue I8 is rotated to cause gripping of and lip I4, this operation being facilitated by engaging the tongue end, as in Figure 3, in the gap 3|, the tool thus acting as a lever. Obviously, this operation is effected without'it being necessary for the dirty tire to come in contact with ones hands or clothmg.

'Ihere has thus been cient device of the kind described and for the purpose specified.

It is obvious that changes may be made in the form and construction of the invention Without departing from the material inventive principles. It is not, therefore, desired to confine the invention to the form herein shown and described, but

it is desired to include all forms which come within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed 1s:-

1. A tool for applying emergency tire chains of the type having a clamp at one end and a strap at the other for engaging with said clamp, said tool comprising an elongated body and a rebent strap supporting member extending downwardly from one end of saidbody and curved backwardly toward the other end of the body, said member being arranged to extend downwardly and outwardly around a tire upon the tool being in use.

2. A tool for applying emergency tire chains of the type having a clamp at one end and a strap at provided a simple and ef-I the other for engagement by said clamp, said tool comprising an elongated body, clamp engaging means at one end of the body, and a rebent strap supporting and holding means at the other end of said body.

3. A tool for applying emergency tire chains of the type having a clamp at one end and astrap at the other for engagement by said clamp, said tool comprising an elongated body, clamp engage ing means at one end of the body, a rebent strap supporting and holding means at the other end of said body, and a transversely extending chain support carried by the body intermediate the ends thereof.

4. A tool for applying emergency tire chains o1' the type having a clamp at one end and a strap at the other for engagement by said clamp, said tool comprising an elongated body, clamp en.

gaging means at one end of the body, a rebent strap supporting and holding means at the other end of said b ody, said strap supporting means being adjustable in length, and means to secure the strap supporting means in adjusted position.

5. A tool for applying emergency tire chains of the type having a clamp at one end and a strap at the other for engagement by said clamp, said tool comprising an elongated body, clamp engaging means at one end of the body, a rebent strap supporting and holding means at the other end of said body, said strap supporting means being adjustable in length, means to secure the strap supporting means in adjusted position, and a transversely extending chain support carried by the body intermediate the ends thereof. s

6. A tool for applying emergency tire chains of the type having a clamp at one end and a strap at the other for engagement by said clamp, said tool comprising an elongated body, a handle at one end of the body and extending longitudinally thereof, a clamp engaging hook at the outer end of the handle, said hook and the handle cooperating to form a clamp tongue manipulating wrench, and a rebent strap supporting and holding means at the other end of said body.

7. A tool for applying emergency tire chains of the type having a clamp at one end and a strap at the other for engagement by said clamp, said tool comprising an elongated body, a vhandle at one end of the body and extending longitudinally thereof, a clamp engaging hook at the outer end of the handle, said hook and the handle cooperating to form a clamp tongue manipulating wrench, a rebent strap supporting and holding means at the other end of said body, and a transversely extending chain support carried by the body intermediate the ends thereof. I

8. A tool for applying emergency tire chains of the type having a clamp at one end and a strap at the other for engagement by said clamp, said tool comprising an elongated body, a handle at one end of the body and extending longitudinally thereof, a clamp engaging hook at the outer end of the handle, said hook and the handle cooperating to form Aa, clamp tongue manipulating wrench, a rebent strap supporting and holding means at the other end of said body, said strap supporting means being adjustable in length, and

means to secure the str p adjusted position.

supporting means in 9. A tool for applying emergency tire chains ofv the type having a clamp at one end and a strap at the other for engagement by said clamp, said tool comprising an elongated body, a handle at one end of the body and extending longitudinally thereof, a clamp engaging hook at the outer end' eratlng to form a clampj'tongue manipulating v y 2,185,408' of the handle, said hook and the handle mop-y erating to form a ciampi-tongue manipulating wrench, a rebent strap supporting and holding means at the other end ofsaid body`,.s'aid strapl of the handle, said hook and the handle coopl erating to form a clamp tongue manipulating wrench, a strap supporting means extending downwardly from the other end of the bodyand having its lower part curved toward said handle,

and a strap end engaging hook at the free extremity of the strap supporting means;

11. A tool for applying emergency tire chains of the type having a clamp at one end and a strap at the other for engagement by said clamp, said tool. comprising an elongated body, a handle at one end of the body and extending longitudinally thereof, a clamp'engaging hook at the outer end of the handle, said hook and the handle coopwrench, a strap supporting Vmeans extending mentioned means a spring clamp.

downwardly from the other end of the body. and having its lower part curved toward said handle, a strap end engaging hook at the free extremity of the strap supporting means, said strap supporting means being adjustable' in' length, and means to secure the strap supporting means in adjusted position.

12. A tool for applying emergency tire chains of the type having a clamp at one end and a strap at the other for engaging with said clamp, said tool comprising an elongated'body, a transversely extending chain support carried by the' body intermediate the ends thereof, and a rebent strap supporting member extending downwardly from one end of said body and curved backwardly toward the other end of the body, said member being arranged to extend downwardly and outwardly around a tire upon the tool being in use.

13. In a tool for applying emergency tire chains having a chain portion and a strap portion, means for supporting said chain portion and means at an end of said rst mentioned means to yieldingly l clamp said strap portion.

14. In a tool for applying emergency tire chains having a chain portion and a strap portion, means for supporting said chain portion and means toyiedinglyclamp said strap portion. said last mentioned means comprising a bent strip of spring metal adapted to form with an end of said rst D. LEWIS. 

